18 One Bowl Cakes for When You’re Short on Time

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Starbucks Lemon Loaf Cake

This Starbucks lemon loaf cake is a soft and rich pound cake that’s filled with bright, refreshing lemon flavor in every bite. It has the perfect balance of sweetness and tang, making it a delightful treat for lemon lovers. With simple ingredients and easy steps, you can recreate this popular coffeehouse favorite right in your own kitchen. It’s a wonderful dessert to enjoy with your morning coffee or as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Get the Recipe: Starbucks Lemon Loaf Cake

Red Velvet Poke Cake

This decadent chocolate cake practically melts in your mouth with every bite, offering the perfect balance of rich, moist layers and irresistible sweetness. It’s topped with a smooth and creamy layer of luscious cream cheese frosting that adds a delightful tang to each slice. Simple to make yet beautifully elegant, this cake is ideal for surprising your special someone. Whether you’re baking for Valentine’s Day or any romantic occasion, it’s sure to leave a lasting impression.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Poke Cake

Strawberry Dump Cake

This strawberry dump cake is a true crowd-pleaser, bursting with juicy, sweet strawberries in every bite. The mix of moist, tender cake and a golden, crunchy streusel topping gives it a perfect balance of textures. It tastes rich, cozy, and wonderfully homemade, like something you’d serve fresh from the oven. Best of all, it couldn’t be easier to make; just dump the ingredients into a pan, bake, and enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Dump Cake

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

This easy Peanut Butter Sheet Cake recipe is perfect for when you want something sweet and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. Made with a simple cake mix, it bakes up into a moist, rich dessert that tastes like a peanut butter brownie. The frosting comes together in the microwave, creating a smooth and fudgy layer that perfectly complements the cake. You don’t even need an electric mixer, which makes cleanup a breeze. With its creamy peanut butter flavor and crunchy chopped peanuts on top, this dessert is sure to become a favorite for peanut butter lovers everywhere.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Sheet Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Christmas Poke Cake

This festive green and red Christmas poke cake is a delightful dessert that captures the joy of the holiday season. It features a light and fluffy cake base that’s infused with colorful layers of jello, creating a fun and flavorful surprise in every bite. The cake is topped with a rich, creamy vanilla frosting that perfectly complements the sweetness of the jello. To finish it off, it’s sprinkled with cheerful Christmas sprinkles that make it look as magical as it tastes. This dessert is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face and add a bright touch to your holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Poke Cake

Pineapple Upside Down Sheet Cake

There’s something timeless about baking a cake from scratch, like stepping into a warm memory filled with the comforting scent of something sweet in the oven. The Pineapple Upside-Down Sheet Cake brings back that nostalgic charm with its buttery caramel, glossy pineapple rings, and bright red cherries that sparkle with cheer. Every step feels like a gentle ritual, from melting butter and stirring sugar to carefully arranging the fruit in the pan. The best part comes when you flip the cake and reveal the beautiful golden top that was hidden beneath. Whether you bake it for a gathering or simply to sweeten an ordinary afternoon, this dessert has a way of making any moment feel special.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Sheet Cake

Jam Cake

The Old Fashioned Jam Cake with brown sugar frosting is a rich, flavorful dessert that’s perfect for anyone who loves classic, homemade treats. It’s filled with warm, comforting spices that pair beautifully with the sweetness of the jam, creating a perfectly balanced flavor in every bite. The addition of raisins and crunchy nuts gives it a wonderful texture that makes each slice satisfying and nostalgic. This cake is ideal for special occasions or cozy family gatherings, offering a taste of traditional baking that feels like home. Get the simple, step-by-step recipe and enjoy this old-fashioned favorite for dessert tonight.
Get the Recipe: Jam Cake

Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Celebrate in the sweetest way possible with this delightful Tangled-themed Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake. This charming dessert combines the rich, fudgy goodness of brownies with the comforting taste of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Perfect for birthdays, movie nights, or any Tangled-inspired celebration, it’s a treat that will make everyone smile. With its whimsical design and irresistible flavor, this cookie cake brings a touch of magic to every special occasion.
Get the Recipe: Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Jewish Cardamom Apple Cake

The Jewish Apple Cake is a beloved traditional dessert known for its moist texture and comforting flavors. Each bite is filled with tender chunks of fresh apples and the cozy aroma of warm spices that bring a sense of home to every slice. Baked in a classic bundt pan, the cake develops a lovely golden crust that adds just the right touch of sweetness and crunch. A hint of cardamom gives this time-honored recipe a gentle modern twist, deepening its rich, spiced flavor. Perfect for autumn gatherings, it stays moist for days, making it an excellent choice for both entertaining and make-ahead baking.
Get the Recipe: Jewish Cardamom Apple Cake

Chai Spice Bundt Cake

This vanilla chai cake is a warm and comforting dessert that brings together the rich flavors of chai spices in a beautifully baked bundt cake. Each bite is soft, moist, and full of cozy notes of cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla, making it a perfect treat for chilly afternoons or special celebrations. Made with sour cream for extra richness, this classic bundt cake is topped with a luscious brown butter cream cheese icing that adds a hint of nutty sweetness. The base recipe is wonderfully versatile, allowing you to transform it into a dirty chai or chocolate chai version for a fun twist. Whether you serve it at a family gathering or a casual get-together with friends, this cake is sure to impress everyone at the table.
Get the Recipe: Chai Spice Bundt Cake

Hot Chocolate Poke Cake

This Hot Chocolate Poke Cake is a comforting dessert that perfectly blends the rich flavors of chocolate and fluffy marshmallows. Each bite is moist, sweet, and full of cozy warmth, making it a treat that feels like a hug in dessert form. It’s an easy recipe to prepare, so you can enjoy a bakery-quality cake without spending hours in the kitchen. Perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, or a simple night at home, this cake never fails to delight both kids and adults alike. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just craving something indulgent, this dessert is sure to leave everyone asking for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Hot Chocolate Poke Cake

Pumpkin Dump Cake

This pumpkin dump cake is a delicious and comforting take on the classic pumpkin pie, blending all the familiar fall flavors into one easy dessert. The smooth, spiced pumpkin layer pairs beautifully with a golden, buttery cake topping that adds just the right amount of sweetness and texture. Each bite feels like a taste of autumn, warm and cozy with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Whether you are serving it for a family gathering, a festive holiday meal, or simply enjoying it on a chilly evening, this dessert is as simple to make as it is satisfying to eat. It is a crowd-pleaser that brings the comfort of homemade baking to your table with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake

Marble Loaf Cake

Eating this marble loaf cake feels like getting the best of both worlds. Each slice reveals a beautiful swirl of rich chocolate and soft vanilla cake coming together in perfect harmony. The flavors complement each other so well, creating a balance between sweet and slightly decadent. Every bite is moist, tender, and satisfying, making it impossible to stop at just one slice. It’s truly a comforting treat that brings joy with every bite.
Get the Recipe: Marble Loaf Cake

Brazilian Carrot Cake

Brazilian Carrot Cake is a wonderfully soft and airy sheet cake made with fresh, blended carrots that give it a naturally vibrant color and subtle sweetness. What makes this cake special is its silky-smooth texture, quite different from the nutty and spiced American version most people know. Each bite is light yet satisfying, complemented by a thick layer of glossy chocolate icing that adds just the right touch of richness. Simple to prepare and always a crowd-pleaser, this cake is perfect for celebrations or as a cozy homemade dessert to enjoy with coffee or tea.
Get the Recipe: Brazilian Carrot Cake

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

This Brown Sugar Pound Cake is a delightful dessert that’s both rich and full of comforting flavor. Each bite is tender, moist, and dense in just the right way, creating a perfect balance of texture and sweetness. The warm brown sugar adds a deep, caramel-like taste that makes it hard to resist. Finished with a silky milky caramel drizzle, it’s the kind of treat that draws everyone to the table. For a truly special touch, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it melt into pure bliss.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Pound Cake

Easy Pineapple Dump Cake

Treat yourself to the delightful taste of this easy pineapple dump cake, a tropical dessert that’s both simple and satisfying. Sweet, juicy pineapple tidbits create a bright and tangy base, while a layer of buttery cake mix and crunchy pecans adds richness and texture. As it bakes to a beautiful golden brown, the flavors meld together into a warm, comforting treat that’s hard to resist. Whether you’re hosting a potluck, celebrating with family, or just craving something sweet after dinner, this dessert is sure to impress with its vibrant flavor and homemade charm.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pineapple Dump Cake

Butter Pecan Poke Cake

Treat yourself to the irresistible taste of a Butter Pecan Poke Cake, a dessert that perfectly combines comfort and indulgence. Each moist layer is soaked with rich, buttery flavors and hints of toasted pecans that melt in your mouth. The creamy filling seeps into every bite, creating a soft, luscious texture that’s both sweet and satisfying. Whether you’re enjoying it after dinner or serving it at a special gathering, this cake is sure to leave everyone asking for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Butter Pecan Poke Cake

Eggnog Poke Cake

Eggnog poke cake is a soft, moist, and wonderfully flavorful dessert that captures the spirit of the holidays in every bite. It starts with a tender yellow cake that’s infused with the cozy richness of eggnog pudding, giving it a creamy and comforting flavor that’s hard to resist. A generous layer of whipped topping adds a light and fluffy finish, making each slice perfectly balanced. This festive treat is an excellent way to use up leftover eggnog while adding a unique twist to your dessert table. Whether you’re serving it at a family gathering or a holiday party, it’s sure to become a new seasonal favorite.
Get the Recipe: Eggnog Poke Cake